Open Space Seattle:2100

Friday, January 26, 2007

King County Shoreline Rules Revisions

From the email inbox:

Hello!King County needs your help as we begin the review of our program for managing the shorelines of marine areas, lakes and streams in unincorporated areas. King County is in the first stages of updating its Shoreline Master Program, a set of policies and regulations that determines how major shorelines are managed.

You are receiving this message because of your past interest in King County's public processes. We'd like your feedback on existing shoreline conditions, the rules that protect them and future goals.

You will not receive another message about this public process, unless you choose to receive additional information. If you would like to subscribe to e-mail notices about the King County Shorelines Update, send an e-mail message to listserv@lists.metrokc.gov with the words "Subscribe KCShorelinesUpdate Your Name" in the body of the message (not the subject line).

Learn more:- Visit the King County Shorelines Web site to see a draft inventory and analysis of existing shoreline conditions and additional information and submit your comments. (The Draft King County Shorelines Technical Appendix, a report describing existing shorelines conditions, will also be made available in public libraries.)- Attend an upcoming Open House near you (dates below) to see a draft inventory and analysis of existing shoreline conditions, learn more about shoreline management and get answers to questions you may have.

How to submit comments:Share comments by submitting them at an open house meeting or through one of the following four ways:1. Online: Visit the New King County Shorelines Web site to submit comments, sign up to receive e-mail updates or look up information about a shoreline area: http://www.metrokc.gov/shorelines/2. Call the King County Shoreline Comment Line: 206-205-8090 3. Emailcomments: shorelines@metrokc.gov 4. Mail written comments:Attn: Shoreline TeamKing County Department of Natural Resources and Parks201 S. Jackson St., Ste. 600Seattle, WA 98104

What's next?Your feedback will be used to develop a draft of an updated King County Shoreline Master Program for public review in the spring and summer of 2007. Key dates for the public process:February 2007 - Public meetings to review shoreline conditions and goals.February 28, 2007 - Public comments due on shoreline conditions and goals.June 2007 - Public meetings on new Draft Program.June 22, 2007 - Public comments due on new Draft Program Fall 2007 - Public meetings on revised Draft Program.March 2008 - Executive sends Proposal to the King County Council

Additional ReadingKing County Shoreline Master Program Web site http://www.metrokc.gov/shorelines/

Sunday, January 14, 2007

In a nice interview with Portland's p-patch garden manager, Leslie Pohl-Kosbau gives this gem about the program that she has been managing for 30+ years:

That's the beauty of the whole thing. Parks doesn't say, "You can only come into this park if you are low-income." Gardening belongs to everybody. There are amazing things we learn from each other. The food is part of that. Flowers are part of that. People of means do contribute back by doing a little extra, donating things and growing food to donate, although I think you will find that more people give who don't have than who actually have. It is a very interesting way to look at life. So it is helpful for people of means to see people who don't have means doing for themselves and for others.

In a nice interview with Portland's p-patch garden manager, Leslie Pohl-Kosbau gives this gem about the program that she has been managing for 30+ years:

That's the beauty of the whole thing. Parks doesn't say, "You can only come into this park if you are low-income." Gardening belongs to everybody. There are amazing things we learn from each other. The food is part of that. Flowers are part of that. People of means do contribute back by doing a little extra, donating things and growing food to donate, although I think you will find that more people give who don't have than who actually have. It is a very interesting way to look at life. So it is helpful for people of means to see people who don't have means doing for themselves and for others.

Final Resolution Language

A RESOLUTION endorsing the work of Open Space Seattle 2100 in developing concepts to integrate green infrastructure and urban sustainability efforts, requesting the Office of Sustainability and Environment to provide a framework for incorporating Open Space Seattle 2100’s goals into the City’s integrated Environmental Action Agenda and to present the framework to the City Council’s Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities Committee, and requesting that consultant resources be used to support analysis of green infrastructure opportunities.

Whereas, the Seattle City Council has embraced the Goals and Principles of Open Space Seattle 2100 by proclamation in May 2006; and

WHEREAS, a significant aspect of the work of Open Space Seattle 2100 was identifying concepts for the creation of “green infrastructure”—natural and engineered systems such as ditches, drainage, parking strips, boulevards, creeks, wetlands, parks, open space, trees, green roofs, gardens, trails, shorelines, aquifers and watersheds—that could serve as parts of the City’s drainage system or provide energy savings or other environmental benefits in the city, and that could be integrated into a citywide system; and

Whereas, the City recognizes the overwhelming commitment, investment, and excitement generated by the 350 plus participants in the Open Space Seattle 2100 process; and

Whereas, the City appreciates their collective desire to create a new vision for using Seattle’s public lands, parks, natural drainage systems, greenbelts, creeks, shorelines and other amenities as green infrastructure; and

Whereas, the City recognizes that citizens already provide input on the environmental future of Seattle through a number of existing advisory bodies, including the Urban Sustainability Advisory Panel, the Restore Our Waters Stakeholder Group, and the Green Ribbon Commissions; and

WHEREAS, the City recognizes that City departments are poised to begin implementation of a number of strategic plans that meet the goals of Open Space Seattle 2100 through urban sustainability programs that cross over City departments; and

Whereas, the City recognizes the need for efforts to change the way that City does business in order to better realize and sustain our long-term sustainability objectives; and

Whereas, the City recognizes that implementation of the City’s strategic plans will be stronger if treated under one comprehensive framework rather than as separate efforts competing for resources; and

WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need to coordinate the planning efforts, services, and functions of City departments, including the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Neighborhoods, Planning and Development, Seattle Public Utilities, and Seattle Center, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment to efficiently and effectively promote green infrastructure and urban sustainability; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:

Section 1. The City of Seattle applauds the work of Open Space Seattle 2100, and its 350 plus participants, in drawing attention to the need for an integrated approach to green infrastructureand urban sustainability, and the City encourages continued citizen input on a sustainable future for Seattle.

Section 2. The Office of Sustainability and Environment is requested to develop a framework to incorporate the goals and green infrastructure concepts of Open Space Seattle 2100 into the planning and implementation of the City’s environmental efforts. The Office of Sustainability and Environment is also requested to design a citizens’ advisory process for engaging residents and businesses in discussions of ways to better integrate City environmental efforts and to better coordinate these efforts across City departments in order to identify environmental priorities and create a more sustainable future for Seattle.

Section 3. The Office of Sustainability and Environment is requested to present to the City Council’s Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee the framework for coordinating environmental activities described in Section 2 and developing the citizens’ advisory process on better coordinating City environmental efforts and identifying environmental priorities, also described in Section 2, by May 1, 2007.

Section 4. The Department of Planning and Development is requested to use the City funds included in the 2007 Adopted Budget for analyzing sustainable infrastructure to advance the goals and concepts of Open Space Seattle 2100 as well as the City’s other sustainable development goals. Work activities may include: (1) using life cycle analysis to compare the benefits/costs of natural drainage systems versus traditional drainage infrastructure, (2) conducting a feasibility study of implementing government-wide green infrastructure policies to guide asset management programs and capital improvement projects, (3) identifying ways to maximize system-wide efficiencies for green infrastructure,(4) conducting community assessment of pathways and road blocks to integrating green infrastructure, and (5) identifying best practices in other communities.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Compare + Contrast

Two news stories this week suggest that there might be a better way to handle our infrastructure issues in Seattle. Compare this line from this story."High Point's groundbreaking new natural drainage system has been functioning as planned during the rainiest November on record.

"Sidewalks on one side of the streets in the new High Point are porous to allow rainfall to drip through to the ground rather than collect in gutters and storm drains. The streets themselves were built with a slight tilt to direct storm water to curb cuts. The cuts send the water into planted parking strips, which have been excavated 15 feet deep with a drain pipe set at the bottom and refilled with compost.

Growing plants and compost comb out silt and grit in storm water before they reach the manmade retention pond located at Juneau Street and 30th Avenue Southwest. More silt settles in the pond before the rainfall flows on down the hill into Longfellow Creek."

The main treatment plant at West Point in Seattle flooded and was knocked out of service for four hours, forcing the dumping of 59 million gallons of untreated diluted waste into Elliott Bay.

The pumping station near the Fauntleroy ferry landing in West Seattle also flooded and failed, and in the 30 hours it took to fix it an additional 5 million gallons of untreated waste poured into the Sound.

About

Open Space Seattle 2100: Designing Seattle's Green Network for the Next Century
University of Washington, the City of Seattle, the Urban Land Institute and other organizations are sponsoring Open Space Seattle: 2100, a design and planning process to formulate a 100-year vision for Seattle's comprehensive open space network. Join us for inspiring lectures, and start forming your team for a 2-day visioning charrette on February 3 and 4, 2006.
Email: open2100@u.washington.edu